Chapter 15. Comparative Politics, Old and New

Author: Apter, David E.

Source: A New Handbook of Political Science, September 1998 , pp. 372-399(28)

Publisher: Oxford Scholarship Online Monographs

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Abstract:

Traces the development of intellectual traditions in comparative politics from the ‘old’ to the ‘new’. ‘Old’ comparative politics reflects a focus on institutionalism and ‘new’ comparative politics has arisen in part because of the end of the Cold War, devolution of powers, the rise of social democracy in Europe, decolonization, and democratization. We are now witnessing ‘neo-institutionalism’, characterized by a restoration of the political to centre stage, the use of rational choice perspectives, and economic analysis due to the importance of market forces and globalization.

Keywords: rational choice; Europe; democratization; comparative politics; decolonization; devolution; social democracy; institutionalism

Document Type: Research article